Saturday marked the start of the race season for the BMC Pro Triathlon Team p/b 2XU with new signing Thor Bendix Madsen making his race debut in BMC Pro Tri team colours at IM70.3 Lanzarote. The 23 year old showed his class powering through the field on the bike setting the fastest bike split of the day. After a solid run performance Madsen claimed the first podium of the season in his debut race for the BMC Pro Triathlon Team. Thor finished in 03:56:51, 1'54" from winner Nieschlag (GER; 03:54:57), with Frenchmen Margirier claiming second (FRA; 03:55:13). Great start of the season for the Dane, who also secured his qualification for the Ironman 70.3 World Championship.
World class bike performance
Madsen had a solid start on the volcanic island. Thor exited the water in 17th place (swim time 24:07), with a deficit of 1’18 back to the leaders. In the opening stage of the bike Madsen started moving through the field and entered the top ten at the 8k mark, riding in 9th place less then a minute back to the podium places.
35km in the bike leg, the BMC athlete had continued his surge forward and had made connection with the first chase group just over 1 minute back to the two leaders. At that point in the race Madsen was part of a group of 5 riding from 3rd to 7th place with an advantage of over 2 minutes on the next chasers.
But there was no stopping the Dane on his surge forward and at the 58k mark, Thor had made the connection with the front of the race as part of a lead group of 4. The 4 leaders had an advantage of 1 minute 15 seconds on the first chasers with a third of the biking left.
The 4 leaders stayed together and entered T2 with an advantage of 2’ to 5th and 6th place.
Once on the run Thor settled immediately in his own pace. Halfway Madsen was running in 4th place 45” from the podium. But the Dane didn't fade and was able to maintain a strong pace in the closing stages of the half marathon to overtake 3rd. After a strong all-round performance Thor Bendix took his first podium of the season in his debut race for the BMC Pro Triathlon Team p/b 2XU.
Very pleased and IM70.3 Worlds qualification secured
"Very happy with my first race of the season", Madsen reflected. "I had an okay swim, not too far behind the front of the race. I felt really strong on the bike and then was able to keep it together on the run. Due to a twisted ankle I had a very limited run prep leading into this race, so pleased to run well and finish on the podium. I am happy with my 3rd place and a IM70.3 Worlds qualification makes the season much easier to plan now".
